John Palmer

Aug. 20, 1946-May 19, 2014

May 23, 2014

John Stanley Palmer, 67, of Westhope, died Monday, May 19, 2014, in a Minot hospital.

John Stanley Palmer, a son of Clark and Lois (Kelly) Palmer, was born Aug. 20, 1946, at Westhope. He was reared and educated in the Westhope area. At the age of 16 he began working in the oil industry. On March 11, 1966, he entered the Navy. He served in Vietnam during his service. John was honorably discharged on June 16, 1967. He returned to Westhope and continued to work in the oil field. He was married to Rita Hansen on Jan. 31, 1969, at Fairview, Mont. In the mid-1980s he opened "Clark's Repair" in Westhope. John retired from the repair business in the '90s and returned to the oil field as a pusher for H&P Industries. He retired in 2012. He had continued to make Westhope his home.

He enjoyed fishing, camping with his family at the Mouse River Park. John enjoyed telling jokes, helping his friends with anything they might need and spending time with his family.

He is survived by: his wife, Rita, of Westhope; son, John (Scooter) Palmer Jr. and his wife, Barb, of Westhope; daughters, Carol and her husband, Kerry Amsbaugh, of Dallas, Jodi and her husband, Hank Berry, of Sidney, Mont., and Kristie and her husband, Buck Henry, of Lansford; grandchildren, Kylee, Ariana, Davon, Travis and Tammie; great-grandchild, Trinity; brothers, Charles (Chuck) Palmer and his wife, Ursula, of Westhope; sisters, Marcy Shigley and her friend, Ron Dahl, of Minot, Paula and her husband, John Mundt, of Westhope and Cheryl Hammel of Westhope; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

John was preceded in death by: his parents and a beloved grandson, Ryan Palmer.